Wintrust Financial Corporation announced the planned transition of the Chief Executive Officer role. Effective May 1, 2023, Timothy S. Crane, who currently serves as Wintrust’s President, will assume the additional role of Chief Executive Officer. Crane also has been appointed to the Wintrust Board of Directors effective immediately.
To ensure a smooth leadership transition, Edward J. Wehmer will continue to serve as Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Wintrust through April 30, 2023. Subject to nomination and reelection by WTFC shareholders at the WTFC annual meeting, Wehmer will continue to serve on the Wintrust Board of Directors and will assume the role of Executive Chairman through May 23, 2024. Wehmer will then serve as Founder and Senior Advisor through December 31, 2026. H. Patrick Hackett, Jr., the current non-executive Chairman of the WTFC Board of Directors, will continue to serve in that role and will assume the additional title of Lead Independent Director. In addition, David A. Dykstra and Richard B. Murphy will continue in their current Vice Chair roles, as key senior leaders of the Wintrust enterprise.
H. Patrick Hackett Jr., Chairman of the WTFC Board of Directors, said: “Today’s announcement represents the result of a rigorous multi-year succession planning process conducted by the Wintrust Board of Directors and Mr. Wehmer. This marks the implementation of our comprehensive CEO transition plan, developed in close collaboration with current executive leadership, that we believe will ensure the necessary levels of continuity and provide all stakeholders with continued confidence in Wintrust’s future. I speak for the entire Board of Directors in voicing our enthusiasm for Tim’s appointment and in expressing our confidence in Tim’s leadership capabilities, and in the strong, highly experienced and committed senior leadership team that will support Tim, as Wintrust continues to grow its exceptional customer-focused financial institution.
“I also wish to extend our gratitude to Ed Wehmer for his visionary leadership which led to the establishment of Wintrust and its growth and evolution during the past 31 years. Wintrust’s rise from one location with 12 employees and zero assets to a diversified banking and financial services enterprise with 5,200 employees, over 170 banking locations and $53 billion in assets represents an unprecedented success story that would not have taken place absent Ed’s extraordinary leadership,” Hackett continued.
Edward J. Wehmer, Founder and CEO of Wintrust, commented on the pending transition: “We hired Tim to join our executive team in 2008 and promoted him to President of the Company three years ago. Much of Wintrust’s success in the past 15 years has Tim’s fingerprints all over it. He has been an extraordinary partner to me and brings the expertise, the experience and the values Wintrust needs to the CEO position. I am confident that now is the right time to pass the torch to Tim.”
“The last 31 years have exceeded my wildest expectations when I and a few brave hearted colleagues opened the first bank in 1991. I am grateful for the opportunity to have created something special at Wintrust – a true community bank which has flourished due to our relentless focus on serving our customers and our communities. I look forward to supporting Tim in his new role and will continue to support Wintrust’s continued growth,” Wehmer continued.
Timothy S. Crane, President of Wintrust, said: “I am very thankful for this opportunity and for the Board’s, Ed’s, and the senior management team’s trust in me. Wintrust will continue building upon its strong foundation that has made it the financial institution that families, business and communities count on every day. As the financial services industry continues to evolve and innovate, we will continue to focus on world-class customer service, disciplined lending processes and activities, user-friendly technology and straightforward and transparent communications. Importantly, we will continue to build upon our mantle as Chicago’s Bank® and Wisconsin’s Bank™. As such, Wintrust will maintain its deep commitment to the communities in which we operate, including philanthropic support of a wide variety of nonprofit organizations as well as an exemplary track record of helping meet the banking needs of underserved communities.”
Tim Crane joined Wintrust in 2008 and has served as President of Wintrust since January, 2020. Prior to joining Wintrust, Crane worked in the banking industry for over 24 years, most recently as President of Harris Bankcorp in Chicago. He is highly active in the Chicago community, currently serving on the board of directors for Metropolitan Family Services, the Bank Administration Institute, Chicago United, and DePaul University. He is a former board member of the Metropolitan Planning Council.